The organizers of the 15th IWC are:
- UNIFE (Union of European Railway Industry)
- ERWA (European Railway Wheels Association)
- BONATRANS GROUP
UNIFE
The Association of the European Railway Industries is an industrial organization representing its members‘ interests towards the European institutions, rail operator associations and other business relations. Its members come from trend setting industries in the field of delivery of turn-key systems, rolling stock manufacturing, infrastructure, information technology equipment and provision of basic materials, parts and services.
UNIFE is located in Brussels. Its membership extends to 60, among largest and medium sized companies of the railway supply industry. A further 900 suppliers of railway equipment are associated members through their National Associations. The European railway industry has a total annual turnover of 60 Billion Euro and accounts for 70% of the world market. 130,000 people are directly employed by UNIFE members.
ERWA
In 2001, the major European producers of railway wheels decided to initiate a co-operative programme within an appropriate frame and structure. So they founded a non-profit organization based in Zurich: “ERWA“ (European Railway Wheels Association). It consisted of 10 members from eight different countries, all of them European producers of railway wheels and wheelsets. The objective of the members was to make the association the recognised leader in the promotion of usage benefits, life cycle cost improvement and standardisation of railway wheels and wheelsets. In 2004 the members decided to leave the status as a self contained association and moved to the broad wings of UNIFE to build up a working group under the same name.
Since the very beginning, the members have stated out their vision, which demonstrates very clearly the high commitment to support the Railway Industry merits of railways use and traffic growth. This will be realized by contributing to improvements in wheels and wheelsets by focussing on safety, reliability and economic efficiency. Today the activity of the working group also includes the definition, adaptation and implementation of advanced technology.
BONATRANS GROUP
BONATRANS GROUP a.s. is engaged in development, production and supplies of wheelsets and their parts there of for all types of rail vehicles – from the simplest products for freight wagons through rubber sprung wheels for trams and underground carriages to the most demanding wheelsets with components for locomotives or high-speed train sets.
Today, the company is the biggest European manufacturer and exporter of wheelsets and their parts with a share of the European market of approx. 30%. Its products are used in 67 countries and 5 continents. Export accounts for 92% of sales, while almost 50% is supplied to the countries of Western Europe. The satisfied customers include almost all European railway companies, private and state service centres as well as a number of city transport companies. The company ranks among the most important suppliers of multinational manufacturers of locomotives and passenger train sets, such as Alstom, Bombardier and Siemens and manufacturers of freight wagons Tatravagónka Poprad, International Railway Systems, Greenbrier, and supplies also firms outside Europe, such as General Electric, Kawasaki or Hitachi. A quality management system certificate according to ISO 9001:2000 is a matter of course. The company expressed its approach to environmental protection on the basis of successful certification according to ISO 14001, and the OHSAS 18001 certificate guarantees compliance with the European legislation in the area of occupational health and safety.
Today, the company is the biggest European manufacturer and exporter of wheel-sets and parts thereof with a share of the European market of approx. 30%. Its products are used in 67 countries and 5 continents. Export accounts for 92% of sales, while almost 50% is intended for the countries of Western Europe. The satisfied customers include almost all European railway companies, private and state service centres as well as a number of city transport companies. The company ranks among the most important suppliers of multinational manufacturers of locomotives and passenger train sets, such as Alstom, Bombardier and Siemens and manufacturers of goods wagons Tatravagónka Poprad, Trinity Greenbrier, and supplies also firms outside Europe, such as General Electric, Kawasaki or Hitachi. A quality management system certificate according to ISO 9001:2000 is a matter of course. The company expressed its approach to environmental protection on the basis of successful certification according to ISO 14001, and the OHSAS 18001 certificate guarantees compliance with the European legislation in the area of occupational health and safety.